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Author: Marillia Veldkornet

20 June 2023 Media Release: GRDM receives bursary funding of more than R10 million from LGSETA

Media Release: GRDM receives bursary funding of more than R10 million from LGSETA

For immediate release
20 June 2023

Last year in October 2022, the Local Government Sector Education and Training Authority (LGSETA) invited stakeholders in the Local Government Sector to apply for their Discretionary Grant that is in line with their (LGSETA’s) priority areas. Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) subsequently applied for the Grant and was awarded R10 million for their bursary needs.

This application, together with applications received from other Local Government stakeholders, went through a desktop evaluation process. Through the initiative, bursaries to the value of more than R1 000 000 were approved for the internal staff that are currently pursuing studies in various fields. A total of 21 staff members are benefiting from this bursary programme while completing studies in their specialised fields. This was the first time that the GRDM have submitted applications for Internal bursaries which were all approved.

A further R2.586 000 million have been approved for the following training programmes for employed and unemployed persons across the Garden Route district:

  • Occupational Certificate Training in Firefighting for fifteen (15) unemployed youth = R43 600 per person.

  • Occupational Certificate Training in Firefighting for 5 employed = R20 000.00 per person.

  • Further Education and Training Certificate in Water and Wastewater Treatment Process Control Supervision for twenty-four (24) persons = R20 000 per person.

  • National Certificate in Water and Wastewater Process Control for fifty (50) employed persons = R20 000.00 per person.

  • Lastly, National Certificate Process Control training for sixteen (16) employed persons to the value of R22 000 per person has also been approved.

All funds received for the internal and external bursaries will have to be spent within the LGSETA timeframes.

In addition to the application submitted by GRDM to the LGSETA, the Municipality has made changes to its Occupational Certificate: Electrician programme, for forty-seven (47) employed persons that will be trained over a period of three years. The amended application is currently in process and the GRDM is waiting for feedback from the LGSETA. The Municipality is hopeful that a favourable response will be received.

By continuously partnering and working with the LGSETA, Local Municipalities in the Garden Route and Training Providers, the GRDM aims to reach its strategic objective, which is “a skilled workforce and community”. As a district municipality, the GRDM serves the local municipalities within the District and therefore believes in the principal of lifelong learning and supports the development of its officials towards better service delivery for all it serves.

ENDS

18 June 2023 Impact Based Warning: Orange Level 5 – Damaging Waves

Impact Based Warning: Orange Level 5 – Damaging Waves

The Cape Town Weather Office has issued a Level 5 Impact Based Warning for Damaging Waves valid from today to 20 June 2023.

Areas in the Garden Route district affected by damaging waves include Bitou, George, Hessequa, Knysna and Mossel Bay.

Legal notice:
“This warning from SA Weather Service must be communicated as received and may not be altered under any circumstance.
It must be forwarded or communicated in its entirety and no portion hereof may be replicated or copied and distributed.”

Report weather related incidents to the Garden Route Disaster Management Centre at: 044 805 5071.

ENDS

18 June 2023 Impact Based Warning: Orange level 5 – Damaging Winds

Impact Based Warning: Orange Level 5 – Damaging Winds

The Cape Town Weather Office has issued a Level 5 Impact Based Warning for Damaging Winds valid for 19 June 2023.

Areas in the Garden Route district affected by damaging winds include Bitou, George, Hessequa, Knysna and Mossel Bay.

Legal notice:
“This warning from SA Weather Service must be communicated as received and may not be altered under any circumstance.
It must be forwarded or communicated in its entirety and no portion hereof may be replicated or copied and distributed.”

Report weather related incidents to the Garden Route Disaster Management Centre at: 044 805 5071.

ENDS

18 June 2023 Impact Based Warning: Yellow level 2 – Damaging Winds

Impact Based Warning: Yellow Level 2 – Damaging Winds

The Cape Town Weather Office has issued a Level 2 Impact Based Warning for Damaging Winds valid for 19 June 2023.

Areas in the Garden Route district affected by damaging winds include Kannaland, and Oudtshoorn.

Legal notice:
“This warning from SA Weather Service must be communicated as received and may not be altered under any circumstance.
It must be forwarded or communicated in its entirety and no portion hereof may be replicated or copied and distributed.”

Report weather related incidents to the Garden Route Disaster Management Centre at: 044 805 5071.

ENDS

16 June 2023 Impact Based Warning: Yellow Level 2 – Damaging Waves

Impact Based Warning: Yellow Level 2 – Damaging Waves

The Cape Town Weather Office has issued a Level 2 Impact Based Warning for Damaging Waves valid from Saturday, 17 June to Tuesday, 20 June 2023.

Areas in the Garden Route district affected by damaging waves include Bitou, George, Hessequa, Knysna and Mossel Bay.

Legal notice:
“This warning from SA Weather Service must be communicated as received and may not be altered under any circumstance.
It must be forwarded or communicated in its entirety and no portion hereof may be replicated or copied and distributed.”

Report weather-related incidents to the Garden Route Disaster Management Centre at 044 805 5071.

ENDS

15 June 2023 Impact Based Warning: Yellow level 2 – Damaging Winds

Impact Based Warning: Yellow level 2 – Damaging Winds

The Cape Town Weather Office has issued a Level 2 Impact Based Warning for Damaging Winds valid from Thursday, 15 June to Saturday, 17 June 2023.

Areas in the Garden Route district affected by damaging winds include Bitou, George, Hessequa, Knysna and Mossel Bay.

Legal notice:
“This warning from SA Weather Service must be communicated as received and may not be altered under any circumstance.
It must be forwarded or communicated in its entirety and no portion hereof may be replicated or copied and distributed.”

Report weather-related incidents to the Garden Route Disaster Management Centre at 044 805 5071.

ENDS

13 June 2023 Media Release: Very cold wet and windy weather to persist over the Cape provinces in the week ahead.

Media Release: Very cold wet and windy weather to persist over the Cape provinces in the week ahead.

For immediate release
13 June 2023

Very cold wet and windy weather to persist over the Cape provinces in the week ahead.

A well-developed, fast-moving cold front arrives over the Western Cape tomorrow, introducing very cold, rainy weather to all three of the Cape provinces. In addition, strong, gusty westerly winds over the interior of Western and Western Cape are expected to accompany the passage of the cold front. Given the dramatic drop in temperature, combined with persistent wet and windy conditions in the days ahead, small stock farmers are strongly encouraged to take mitigative action at an early stage to prevent stock losses due to exposure.

Moreover, the arrival of the cold frontal system tomorrow will be the first in a succession of such systems, expected to pass through the Cape provinces in the week ahead, on an almost daily basis.

Cold, windy conditions with occasional showers will therefore be a persistent feature of the weather over the southern half of the country, continuing until well after the long weekend.

The latest output from Numeric Weather Prediction (NWP) models, in particular the Unified Model (UM) (refer Figure 1 below) suggest that heavy rainfall may occur over parts of Western Cape tomorrow Wednesday 14 June, persisting on Thursday 15 June.

Typically, the presence of higher topography and especially mountainous areas tends to markedly enhance local rainfall through orographic uplift. The western, or windward, side of hills and mountains of the Western and Northern Cape can therefore expect to receive upwards of 100 mm of rainfall on Wednesday, with further significant rainfall of the order of 50 mm or more, persisting on Thursday. This NWP guidance has prompted SAWS to issue a Level 6 Orange warning for disruptive rainfall, expected to affect particularly the Cape Town CBD and Metropole as well as the Winelands area (see additional details below).

Strong, gusty winds (possibly gusting beyond gale-force) are anticipated over much of the interior of Western Cape and Eastern Cape tomorrow and Thursday. High-sided vehicles travelling along major roads and highways could be at risk of being severely buffeted by crosswinds. Drivers of such vehicles are encouraged to reduce speed and to exercise due caution in this regard.

Numerically modelled 24-hour rainfall in mm, based on the Unified Model (UM), valid for Wednesday, 14 June and Thursday, 15 June 2023 (at top left and top right respectively). Source: Meteologix.com

Strong to gale force winds are expected to occur along the Western Cape coast between Saldanha Bay and Plettenberg Bay on Wednesday and Thursday, combined with very rough sea conditions of 4,5 to 5,0m, which will lead to difficulty in navigation at sea and may cause problems for small marine vessels.

The following Impact-Based weather warnings have been issued by the South African Weather Service (SAWS):

A Yellow Level 2 Warning for disruptive rain leading to localised flooding of roads and settlements can be expected over the southern West coast, south-eastern Cape Winelands and western Overberg districts on Wednesday and Thursday (14-15/06/2023). Impacts may include difficult driving conditions and minor motor vehicle accidents due to slippery roads.

An Orange Level 6 Warning for disruptive rain leading to major disruption of traffic flow can be expected over the City of Cape Town and most parts of Cape Winelands on Wednesday and Thursday (14-15/06/2023). Impacts may include flooding of roads and settlements and damage to property and infrastructure.

Furthermore, members of the public are encouraged to regularly follow weather forecasts on television, radio as well as social media platforms. Updated information in this regard will regularly be available at www.weathersa.co.za as well as via the SA Weather Service Twitter account @SAWeatherService.

Compiled by Kevin Rae and Stella Nake (CT and PE forecaster input)
Edited by Wayne Venter

Approved by Tshepho Ngobeni, Senior Manager DRR
For technical and weather enquiries:
National Forecasting Centre: Tel: 012 367 6041

Report weather related incidents to the Garden Route District Disaster Management Centre at 044 805 5071.

ENDS

12 June 2023 Public Notice: Draft Service Delivery and Budget Implementation Plan for the 2023/2024 Financial year is open for public comment

Public Notice: Draft Service Delivery and Budget Implementation Plan for the 2023/2024 Financial year is open for public comment

12 June 2023

The Draft Service Delivery and Budget Implementation Plan for the 2023/2024 Financial Year will be open for public comment from Tuesday, 13 June 2023.

Closing date for comments is 26 June 2023.

Browse to this link to access the document and annexures.

All comments must be forwarded to:
Ms Ilse Saaiman
GRDM Manager: Performance Management
E-mail: performance@gardenroute.gov.za and info@gardenroute.gov.za
Tel no: 044 803 1425